May 19, 2011 (Los Angeles, CA) The Reading, Writing, It’s Exciting! Program (RWE) is hosting a reading and literacy event at the Westside Pavilion Barnes & Noble (10850 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064) on June 4th & 7th to promote literacy and to shine a spotlight on how important it is for parents to read with their children. To help ensure this message is heard, we have invited various celebrities to read a book (Dr. Seuss or other) for twenty minutes with one of the children at our event (or to their own children). We hope the celebrity participation will help inspire other parents to undertake this all-so-important activity with their own children. Literacy experts have all stated that if parents read to, and with, their children from a young age, it would solve many of our literacy problems.

RWE is a nonprofit literacy program designed to improve the reading and writing skills of at-risk children. We do this by providing one-to-one writing mentors throughout the school year for kids who are chosen by their teachers to participate. At the end of the school year, the kids get to read one of their stories at a Barnes & Noble, and then watch in special VIP seats as actors perform them for the audience.

The reason for our program is that research shows that if children aren’t writing and reading at their grade level by the end of second grade, they almost never catch up. Further research has also shown that as many as 80% of those kids eventually drop out of high school, are unemployed, are in prison or join gangs. And how accurate are those numbers? Several states actually base their future prison building plans on them! What’s the situation like in Los Angeles? There are over 45,000 second grade students in L.A., and only 41% of them are proficient in writing and reading. Those kids need us.

BENEFICIARY:
Reading, Writing, It’s Exciting!
The purpose of Reading, Writing, It’s Exciting! is to mentor kids in Los Angeles in writing and reading. They work closely with schools, so that teachers handpick the students who need their help the most. Each year, Reading, Writing, It’s Exciting!:
• Teaches children how to write a story with their own ideas
• Brings out the creativity in kids with fun imagination games
• Provides mentors to help children write their own stories
• Helps children read their story out loud in front of a group
• Gives kids the opportunity to read their own creative stories in front their families and friends at a bookstore.

Stats:
• According to the California Department of Education, only 41% of LAUSD
students are proficient in Language Arts (reading/writing)
• Research has shown that students who are not reading and writing at
grade level by the 3rd grade fall further and further behind their
classmates, and rarely ever catch up. (The Annie E. Casey Foundation)
• Furthermore, the numbers have shown that 50-80% of these children who can’t
read or write eventually drop out of high school, are unemployed, commit
crimes, or join gangs. (The Washington Literacy Council)
• Several states actually base their future prison building plans on these
numbers. That’s how accurate they are!
We are hoping by reaching these children now, they won’t become a part of these statistics.

ATTIRE:
Our Informal/Formal black and white masquerade ball encourages men to wear suits or tuxedos and women to wear white or black. Masks are required; some will be available for purchase at the event. (All proceeds benefit RWE). Not acceptable; typical Halloween costumes, short dresses, street clothes and scary masks.

Tickets:
$10.00. Tickets include entry to event, auction, entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, 2 raffle tickets.
Age Requirement: You must be 21 years old or older to attend. AB Weddings & Special Events reserves the right to refuse ticket sales when necessary.

Master of Ceremonies:
Sean Kanan (The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, Karate Kid III)
Silent Auction: Come browse our auction items donated by celebrities, local artists, local businesses and members of the charity.

Pages A Bookstore is set to host next autograph event for celebrity book author Aura Imbarus…

On February 3, 2011 in Manhattan Beach, CA, (904 Manhattan Avenue) Pages a Bookstore will host a meet and greet book signing event to spotlight, “Out of the Transylvania Night” by author & Pulitzer Prize nominee Aura Imbarus. Bettie Youngs Books had the honor of publishing this exceptional book that people just can’t put down once they start reading it. “Out of the Transylvania Night” explores tyranny and freedom, love, success, and the price paid for misaligned dreams in an epic tale of identity and the human spirit. It is a deftly woven narrative about finding greater meaning and fulfillment in a free world, and an exploration of how social issues affect the human spirit. An incredibly powerful memoir! Aura has recently teamed up with Extreme PR to help with press/media/booking for her national book tour in 2011.

Aura Imbarus is an educator, professional speaker, and the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Out of the Transylvania Night: A Story of Tyranny, Freedom, Love and Identity, released on Sept 27, 2010 and a book for teens, 101 Great Ways to Make the World a Totally Awesome Place – By Teens For Teens, that will be released in fall 2011. Aura was born and raised in Sibiu/Hermannstadt, Romania, or more precisely in “Dracula’s county – Transylvania”. Aura attended Lucian Blaga University, earning an MA degree in American and British Studies and a Ph.D. in Philology with the distinction Cum Laude. From 1990 to 1997, she worked as a journalist for Radio Contact, The National Journal, and Gallup Poll in Sibiu, Romania.

Aura is actively involved in RAPN (Romanian American Professional Network) as well as Eurocircle, a professional networking organization with over 60,000 members of European origins. She is a huge supporter of Scott L. Schwartz Children’s Foundation and a proud sponsor of Toys For Tots. Aura is also a member of MLA- Modern Language Association, NCTE- National Council of Teachers of English, NEA- National Education Association, and many others.

“I want to live life to the fullest,” says Aura, “and in the process, to help others along the way. I want to squeeze out each and every moment of life, and use to the maximum. Every day has the potential of a lifetime.”

More about the Publisher: Bettie Youngs Books works with exemplary authors to produce informative, inspiring, and entertaining books of enduring importance. Their special books and exciting authors with significant platforms bring fresh, authoritative perspectives and lively prose to topics of contemporary relevance. Please visit: http://www.bettieyoungsbooks.com.

December 13, 2010 (Torrance, CA) Borders book signing and Q&A event quickly turned into a book selling frenzy for “Out of the Transylvania Night” author & Pulitzer Prize nominee Aura Imbarus when hundreds of fans showed up to get their personalized copy of the book and meet the author. Bettie Youngs Books had the honor of publishing this exceptional book that people just can’t put down once they start reading it. “Out of the Transylvania Night” explores tyranny and freedom, love, success, and the price paid for misaligned dreams in an epic tale of identity and the human spirit. It is a deftly woven narrative about finding greater meaning and fulfillment in a free world, and an exploration of how social issues affect the human spirit. An incredibly powerful memoir! Aura has recently teamed up with Extreme PR to help with press/media/booking for her national book tour in 2011.

Aura Imbarus is an educator, professional speaker, and the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Out of the Transylvania Night: A Story of Tyranny, Freedom, Love and Identity, released on Sept 27, 2010 and a book for teens, 101 Great Ways to Make the World a Totally Awesome Place – By Teens For Teens, that will be released in fall 2011. Aura was born and raised in Sibiu/Hermannstadt, Romania, or more precisely in “Dracula’s county – Transylvania”. Aura attended Lucian Blaga University, earning an MA degree in American and British Studies and a Ph.D. in Philology with the distinction Cum Laude. From 1990 to 1997, she worked as a journalist for Radio Contact, The National Journal, and Gallup Poll in Sibiu, Romania.

Aura is actively involved in RAPN (Romanian American Professional Network) as well as Eurocircle, a professional networking organization with over 60,000 members of European origins. She is a huge supporter of Scott L. Schwartz Children’s Foundation and Help a Life Foundation and sponsor of Toys For Tots Foundation and The Scott L. Schwartz Children’s Foundation. Aura is also a member of MLA- Modern Language Association, NCTE- National Council of Teachers of English, NEA- National Education Association, and many others.

“I want to live life to the fullest,” says Aura, “and in the process, to help others along the way. I want to squeeze out each and every moment of life, and use to the maximum. Every day has the potential of a lifetime.”

More about the Publisher: Bettie Youngs Books works with exemplary authors to produce informative, inspiring, and entertaining books of enduring importance. Their special books and exciting authors with significant platforms bring fresh, authoritative perspectives and lively prose to topics of contemporary relevance. Please visit: http://www.bettieyoungsbooks.com.